Uniti Star and KEF R500

I have no experience of the KEFs, though I am running a Star with PMC PB1i transmission-liners, which have a similar sensitivity.

The Star’s a loaner while my stuff is in Salisbury for upgrading/fettling and I’m suitably impressed by its musicality and general excellence. Clearly it’s not in the 500 class amp in a number of ways, but the only real issue I have is that it doesn’t have control of the deep bass the PMCs give out.

Nevertheless, on a bang per buck basis it’s extremely capable (and I’ve experienced no issues with firmware/software etc.) and I suspect the design of the KEFs will mitigate those bass control issues I have (sorted by not playing at head banging levels!).

I have Dynaudio Focus 260s and a Uniti Star and really enjoy the combination. I don’t have experience with the Nova. My guess is the bass might be a little better but I have no reason to switch and try. I feel like I get everything I need. 

The sensitivity of my speakers is slightly less than yours and mine are 4 ohm, so I’m sure the star would be good with your 500s also. 

Thank you Nick Lees and Calas01,  so looks like Star would drive them fine.

i had a Demo of Star with KEF R700 and they sounded good but lacked slightly on clarity, unfortunately R500 were not available with the dealer to actually test it.

as for general comment on Star and other speaker brands I have tried Star with following floorstanders Elac debut 6, Elac unifi uf5, monitor audio silver 200, silver 300 , gold 200, SVS prime, SVS ultra, focal chorus 726, aria 926, aria936, KEF 700, neat motive SX2.

the ones which really impressed me were with overall clarity, sound stage and bass control were Monitor audio silver 200, SVS prime and KEF R700.

for bookshelf speakers I tried Aria 906, neat motive SX3, neat momentum SX3I, monitor audio gold 100.

the ones which really impressed me were monitor audio Gold 100 and momentum SX3I.

thanks

hifinewbie

I have heard Monitor Audio silvers and the focal 900 series; I’ve heard Kefs but never the R series only the Q and Ref lines and the LS50. Never heard Neat or the Gold series. I’ve been in a room with Elac speakers twice but it was to loud to give them any real listen and therefore I cannot say anything about them. My guess is that you prefer the metal tweeter sound and particularly with a little bit of a forward balance to the sound (perhaps). 

I had the Nait 5i-2, XS-2 & Uniti 2 before the Uniti Star, I find the star to have a lower noise floor and greater clarity then the U2 had. Plus the Star sounds a little more like a NAIT XS2 then the U2 and it’s Nait 5i based preamp section. 

Callas01 posted:

I have heard Monitor Audio silvers and the focal 900 series; I’ve heard Kefs but never the R series only the Q and Ref lines and the LS50. Never heard Neat or the Gold series. I’ve been in a room with Elac speakers twice but it was to loud to give them any real listen and therefore I cannot say anything about them. My guess is that you prefer the metal tweeter sound and particularly with a little bit of a forward balance to the sound (perhaps). 

I had the Nait 5i-2, XS-2 & Uniti 2 before the Uniti Star, I find the star to have a lower noise floor and greater clarity then the U2 had. Plus the Star sounds a little more like a NAIT XS2 then the U2 and it’s Nait 5i based preamp section. 

Unlikely to be a Nait 5i preamp section as the Nait 5i doesn't have a preamp (just passive input selection switches and a passive volume control).

NaimUniti 2 has an analogue heart. Its NAIT 5si-derived integrated amplifier beats true to our long established design philosophies and is the foundation of the NaimUniti 2's audio quality.

Straight off the Naim website under the U2s technology and craft section. So I assumed they were basing the U2 off the 5si.

Yes... the power amp, not the preamp.

Huge posted:

Yes... the power amp, not the preamp.

Yes on the original Uniti which had a 50 watt amp that would make sense, however the U2 had a 70 watt amp section. I’m no amp designer so perhaps you could switch the power supply and amplifier chips and keep the design the same? 

That said I still feel that the 5i and U2 sounded similar and the XS and Star sound similar. 

The 5si is 60W.  Improving the regulation of the power supply (by, for instance, reducing the resistance in the secondary winding of the transformer) could very easily increase that to 70W with no other circuit changes required.

Callas01 posted:

I have heard Monitor Audio silvers and the focal 900 series; I’ve heard Kefs but never the R series only the Q and Ref lines and the LS50. Never heard Neat or the Gold series. I’ve been in a room with Elac speakers twice but it was to loud to give them any real listen and therefore I cannot say anything about them. My guess is that you prefer the metal tweeter sound and particularly with a little bit of a forward balance to the sound (perhaps). 

I had the Nait 5i-2, XS-2 & Uniti 2 before the Uniti Star, I find the star to have a lower noise floor and greater clarity then the U2 had. Plus the Star sounds a little more like a NAIT XS2 then the U2 and it’s Nait 5i based preamp section. 

Iam still trying to understand what kind of music  I like so your observation could be true ... as I like clarity but also need well controlled bass.

Clarity can be achieved with soft dome tweeters as well. But might not be that great on Elac speakers. Sonus Fabre, ProAc, and Dynaudio are a couple that come to mind. Plus they’ll all do bass well too. If you want good soft dome tweeters check out these brands also. 

callas01 I have ordered KEF R500 so won’t change them at this point but I will check the above brands when I get opportunity, if there is any particular model you can suggest in floor standers then it will be great.

i was confused if star will do justice to them hence was considering nova, but appears from above  comments in this thread that I need not worry and spend more to get Nova. 

hifinewbie posted:

callas01 I have ordered KEF R500 so won’t change them at this point but I will check the above brands when I get opportunity, if there is any particular model you can suggest in floor standers then it will be great.

i was confused if star will do justice to them hence was considering nova, but appears from above  comments in this thread that I need not worry and spend more to get Nova. 

I don't understand why you preordered the speakers before dealer actually took them home for a demo, most dealers would have done so if potential interested customers

Indeed if your buing Star/Nova there too.

If the R500 is anything close to LS50 they are good in smaller rooms, actually I liked the smaller stand mount Ls50 better when I heard them last time against some Kef floorstands not sure what number they were ?

Right, May be that’s a mistake which I realised after reading posts on this forum, should have asked for home demo.

FYI i tried LS50 and found Rseries better than that, as book shelves they are vgood imo.

hifinewbie posted:

callas01 I have ordered KEF R500 so won’t change them at this point but I will check the above brands when I get opportunity, if there is any particular model you can suggest in floor standers then it will be great.

i was confused if star will do justice to them hence was considering nova, but appears from above  comments in this thread that I need not worry and spend more to get Nova. 

First, I think more people have opinions of the Nova and Star on this website then have actually heard either; and I’ll guarantee even fewer have heard the Star, but still pass judgement. The Star will be much more then capable of powering the R500s and at least in my setup (Dynaudio Focus 260s) clarity and weight are impressive. 

Sonus Fabre Veneere 2.5, Dynaudio Excite X34 or X38, ProAc Response DT8 are a few to consider if you’re interested in listening to them. 

This is great, I have my Pre and amps from Herron so need streamer and CD and was looking at the Star.  It would take 3 boxes into one, ND5xs, 555PS and Rega  shoebox CDP. Of course the sexy dark web pages and mesmerizing graphics signal a new period.  I want to hear more if anyone has one more about the streamer and CD than powering speakers.  I'm very happy with ND5 but the corner I have between Rega and SLH 5 is tight to turn the Preamp on.  Same with putting vinyl on the Palmer TT,  I need to turn the TV off and listen to more music. Easier access to internet stations so I can sample the world.  Love RP but there is more out there and can't deal with the ND5 getting stations.  Just downloaded the app for my phone.                I ramble on, but Basie is swinging.

Mudwolf, The Star has a great streaming module and gets tidal, Spotify and the radio stations very well. Way better then my Uniti2 ever did. The CD player is basically just a CD-ROM drive and then the digital circuitry and dac take over which I feel sounds so much nicer then the U2 did as well. I have not connected a TT. But I would imagine the A2D and back to D2A would still sound amazing. 

I expect this new wave of kit is incredible.  Don't know the capacity of the CD ROM, I'm sure it's great, I'd probably put on favorite CDs and keep in storage the ones I don't listen to as often.  I'm thinking of weeding out some of the many stacked on my storage unit.  There is something of handling a CD and package, tho infuriating when you can't find the one ya want!!!  the App would solve that.

Wrote a dealer in Venice and he needs to figure out a time to get out.  It is a 3 hr drive for him to the desert.  I have other Naim pieces for him to take back and sell.  It'll probably be about an even trade.  Having the CDP with the Star is really helpful to clear  a tight area.  The Rega is a top load and it puts the CD into a buffer so it is like being on a computer.  It is a wonderful analog sounding unit.

I read the Stereophile review, and was impressed,  Maybe in 2 months. Taxes, new water filtration system, medical issue are first in line.

Quick update, KEF r500 is not available so have to look for another pair of speakers for my Star. Also dealer has a 10 year on NAP 200 for 1k. So two questions first which speakers to consider for star, as mentioned above have tried MA silver 200 and they sound good, but iam open to suggestions now.

Secondly should i consider Star/250 ? if yes then which speakers to test with.

TYPO

Quick update, KEF r500 is not available so have to look for another pair of speakers for my Star. Also dealer has a 10 year OLD NAP 200 for 1k. So two questions first which speakers to consider for star, as mentioned above have tried MA silver 200 and they sound good, but iam open to suggestions now.

Secondly should i consider Star/250 ? if yes then which speakers to test with.

But you said at the top you’d purchased the R500....

As a hifi newbie, I’d suggest you spend time with a good dealer listening to options and finding out what you like. Questions like ‘should I buy a Sta/250’ are really impossible to answer, especially as you mentioned a 200 only three lines above. 

For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t get a Star/250. I’d decide between a Star and a Nova, and then choose some speakers that you like and which work in your room.

hifinewbie posted:

TYPO

Quick update, KEF r500 is not available so have to look for another pair of speakers for my Star. Also dealer has a 10 year OLD NAP 200 for 1k. So two questions first which speakers to consider for star, as mentioned above have tried MA silver 200 and they sound good, but iam open to suggestions now.

Secondly should i consider Star/250 ? if yes then which speakers to test with.

Has the 200 been serviced/recapped? If not, you will probably need to have this done now, or within a couple of years, which will be an extra expense.

I ran a 200 on a Superuniti for a while, and although it was an improvement, I would not consider it a cost effective upgrade. I suspect you might find the same with a Star. 

hifinewbie posted:

TYPO

Quick update, KEF r500 is not available so have to look for another pair of speakers for my Star. Also dealer has a 10 year OLD NAP 200 for 1k. So two questions first which speakers to consider for star, as mentioned above have tried MA silver 200 and they sound good, but iam open to suggestions now.

Secondly should i consider Star/250 ? if yes then which speakers to test with.

Regardless what you do, 1k GBP is too much for a Nap 200 if it is unserviced.

I bought a Nap 200 last year from a Naim dealer having a very good reputation for GBP 700. Add GBP 250 for a service by Class A Audio, and you have up to date, nice amp.

But you said at the top you’d purchased the R500....

As a hifi newbie, I’d suggest you spend time with a good dealer listening to options and finding out what you like. Questions like ‘should I buy a Sta/250’ are really impossible to answer, especially as you mentioned a 200 only three lines above.

For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t get a Star/250. I’d decide between a Star and a Nova, and then choose some speakers that you like and which work in your room.

———————————————

hungryhalibut — it is actually NAP 250 , Sorry for the typos and I had ordered R500 and after 6weeks was told it is not available and will need more time, so cancelled the order.

thanks Chrissu , appears it is not worth having Star/250, I may better invest that money on better speakers.

ardbeg10y — it’s NAP 250 but since it is 10 years old thanks for advice to cap it.

hifinewbie posted:

TYPO

Quick update, KEF r500 is not available so have to look for another pair of speakers for my Star. Also dealer has a 10 year OLD NAP 200 for 1k. So two questions first which speakers to consider for star, as mentioned above have tried MA silver 200 and they sound good, but iam open to suggestions now.

Secondly should i consider Star/250 ? if yes then which speakers to test with.

Check out the Dynaudio X34s for a pair of speakers close in price to and should work well with the Star

I’d pass on the 200 and give the Star a chance to impress on its own.